USPS seeks approval for 11% fuel surcharge on package deliveries

Key facts

• USPS needs approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission for the January price increase.
• The 11% surcharge replaces a temporary 8% surcharge that USPS imposed in April.
• USPS said it is not planning to raise first class stamp prices in January.
• First class stamp prices rose from 78 to 82 cents in July, USPS said.
• USPS said transportation expenses rose by $225 million in the 12 months ending September 30 due to higher fuel costs.

The US Postal Service said on November 12 it is seeking approval for an 11% price increase for domestic priority mail and package deliveries in January, to deal with rising fuel costs. USPS needs approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission for the increase.

The surcharge would rise from a temporary 8% surcharge that USPS imposed in April. The postal service said it was not planning to raise the price of first class stamps in January; those stamps rose in July from 78 to 82 cents.

USPS said this week its transportation expenses in the 12 months ending September 30 rose by $225 million due to higher fuel costs. Reuters described the postal service as cash-strapped.